Shaftesbury School – Summer Bucket Lists

Summer holiday bucket lists – five Dorset must-dos to add to yours

Whether you write a list or just keep a few ideas in your head, all of us will look forward to some special treats or activities we want to enjoy over the school summer holidays.

We’re so lucky in this beautiful county of Dorset to have many wonderful locations and activities on our doorstep – so we thought we’d take this opportunity to share a couple of our favourites with you in case you’re getting stuck for ideas, or you’re just looking to add a few more gems to your own holiday bucket lists.

#1 Durdle Door

It’s hard to imagine a lovelier part of the coast than that which you’ll find around Durdle Door, a stunning naturally formed limestone arch on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. It’s downright charming – including its name, which is thought to date back 1000 years, with Durdle coming from the Old English thirl, meaning to pierce, bore or drill. We love the walk from Lulworth Cove along to Durdle Door and back – which means you can enjoy two of the most picturesque Dorset coastal landmarks in one day!

#2 The Shaftesbury Fringe

Shaftesbury might be small but it does punch above its weight when it comes to festivals and events, from the 161-year-old Shaftesbury and Gillingham Show which pulls in crowds of 25,000, to the rather new Shaftesbury Fringe, founded in 2016. This performing arts festival is a celebration of all things creative, with both new and established artists performing and exhibiting across 30 venues in the town. The festival is often used by artists as a warm-up opportunity on their way to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival later in the year – making it the perfect place to catch rising stars on their way to the big time!

#3 Gold Hill

Whether it’s a regular jaunt for you, or you’ve never scaled it– and it’s always surprising how many local folk fall into that camp – a walk up Shaftesbury’s famous Gold Hill never disappoints. This steep cobbled street, made famous by the long-running iconic Hovis ad, is well worth the effort for the view looking down from the top, described as ‘one of the most romantic sights in England.’ Get along and see for yourself if you agree!

#4 Kingston Lacey

This fabulous 8,500-acre estate includes a 17th Century home, formal gardens and swathes of parkland, all managed by the National Trust. Spend a day exploring and top it off with a visit to the nearby Barford Farmhouse ice cream gardens where you enjoy their sumptuous range of ice creams made right there on the farm while relaxing in their pretty gardens. Though closed for 2021 we’re hoping this much-loved ice-cream lovers haven will reopen again next year!

#5 Gorcombe Extreme Sports

This outdoor activity centre has everything to please the thrill-seekers out there, with more than 10 activities to try, from quad biking to clay shooting to an extreme assault course. Go with a gang of pals and prepare to come home tired, muddy and very happy!

These are just a few of our Dorset favourites – we bet you have many more on your own lists! We wish you a great time ticking them off and hope you enjoy the rest of your summer holiday!